Period after 1 1/2 years. Anyone else??????

scrapmom40

I have not had my period since October 2011 and started spotting yesterday and now have my period.  I'm not too worried, since I have all the symptoms of a normal period (headache, backache, cramps), but I am wondering if anyone else has had a similar experience.  I was diagnosed at 40.  My Period kind of came and went for a while (chemo-pause, etc)., but then I haven't had anything for the last 17 months.  (I will be 46 in June). 

Just wondering if anyone has had a similar experience.  Thanks for your feedback.

Karen

wildrumara

Hi scrap mom -

I am 44 years old.  Well, from what I've read, it is not unusual at all to have your period return, even after years of it being away.     My last period was also in October 2011, after my first cycle of chemo.   Because of that, this past January when I saw my MO, she ordered blood work to see if I was officially post menopausal.   Those results came back indicating that I definitely was post menopausal with an estradial level of less than 5 and FSH level of 60.  Because of that, my MO decided to switch me from Tamoxifen to Arimidex.  

My story got a lot more complicated once I was switched over to Arimidex, but I won't go there with you......but basically to answer your question, YES, your period can return.   Talk to your MO about getting your levels checked, although, its pretty obvious that your levels will be in the menopausal range because you are having a period, so he/she will probably say not necessary. 

I am now doing ovarian supression, so I can stop my ovarian function and my periods once and for all, but again, that's part of that complicated story I mentioned above..haha!

rozem

yes me!  my periods stopped october 2011 during chemo and then came back with a vengence in dec 2012 - had all the normal period symptoms aswell.  I am assuming you are on tamox.  My onc is shutting me down with lupron shots once a month so no more periods for me.  Some oncs shut down, some dont - I have no idea why, maybe total risk ? (i was her2 positive and extremely er positive - over 95%).  It is not uncommon for pre-meno women to get their periods back since many of us are very far away from natural menopause.  I would let your onc know that you got it back and she what he/she says

fyi - there is a large study coming out at the end of this year called SOFT - it is comparing pre-meno women who are on tamox only with women who have had ovary suppression plus tamox to see if there is a benefit to shutting down the ovaries, this may be practice changing so i would speak to your onc about it

rozem

further to wildruama's post - even if they check your levels and it shows your levels are post -meno i would hesitate to switch to an AI right away.  My levels were tested twice and both times it showed i was definitely in meno - well a few months later i got my period back.  We are young so we can "snap out of meno" quickly and AI's dont work on pre-meno women

scrapmom40

Thanks Rozem and Wildrumara for your posts.  I appreciate it.  I have an appt. with my gynocologist on April 22nd (that was the earliest they could give me).  I don't have an oncology appt. until July.  Typically the oncologist wants me to see my regular doctor or gynecologist.  I think the assumption is always that whatever I might be experiencing is normal and doesn't have to do with cancer.  So, I am not going to call the oncologist, but I will tell her when I see her in July.  I did Lupron shots for just two months back in 2009 or 2010.  Didn't really love it, so I stopped and have just been doing Tamoxifen.  My five years is up in July and then we discuss whether to continue for another 5 years.  The oncologist knows I have not had a period for over a year and she has never mentioned switching me to AI and coming off the tamoxifen as I know a lot of other have done.  Maybe it is because of my age not sure.  I can't imagine I am still pre-menopausal, but the oncologist still treats me as though I am.  We will see what the GYN has to say when I see him.  Thanks again for your replies.  I appreciate it.

Karen

msphil

hello sweetie, I too had that experience, my period stopped after a couple treatments of chemo and then it spotted then off all together, I was happy nad teased my sisters that I don,t have it anymore, I was 42 when diagnosed, and yrs later, I spotted again and they laughed but it went off completely, that was 19 yrs ago this yr for I am a 19 year SURVIVOR(Praise GOD). msphil(idc, stage ,2 L mast, chemo and rads and 5 yrs on tamoxifen). 

Ahicks62

I wish I knew if my periods are going to come back. I am 50, mine were irregular prior to cancer and stopped completely in Sept 2012 when I started chemo. I am hoping they are done.

MizMarie

Ahicks, I was 48 at dx and had my MO told me at my consult visit that chemo woult put me into menopause, and it would likely be permanent.  I had my last period the week before my first chemo, in August 2011; nothing since.  I don't really miss it, but I would happily welcome it back in trade for the hot flashes, dryness, etc.  

Ahicks62

Thanks MizMarie! I hope your MO is right

ang7894

I was dxed at 43 still had my monthly and regular too but then chemo put me in menopause and I still don't have my monthly at age 45 now. I am with Mizmarie Would love to have it back instead of hot flashes and dryness...